AFC Leopards vs Naibois: Ambani on the spot as Ingwe eye title chase revival
By Luke Oluoch, March 18, 2026Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League side AFC Leopards will be back at the home turf in Nyayo National Stadium this Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to face Nairobi United in a rescheduled tie.
Fred Ambani’s team aims to recalibrate their dwindling season’s title fortunes after a spate of inconsistent results that have not only derailed their pursuit of leaders, Gor Mahia, but also put the former international under huge scrutiny.
After sustained spells of convincing wins that buoyed optimism around the club, Ingwe suffered a huge blow with a defeat against KCB on Thursday, February 26, 2026, sparking concerns over their title credentials.
Ambani will particularly be under scrutiny just a day after Shabana parted ways with head coach Peter Okidi after a series of inconsistent results.
Injury woes
Despite shrugging off the loss in emphatic fashion with the humiliation of Shabana in their next tie, Leopards were back on the losing streak in a surprise 4-1 defeat to Mathare on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
Throwing their title chase in further doubt, it earned the ire of a section of irate fans who made known their displeasure after the game.
Moments after the final whistle, the supporters stormed the pitch demanding changes in the team’s technical bench.
Central to the fans’ concerns has been Ambani’s squad alterations, which have seen fringe players fail when called upon to fill the void by the regulars.
There, however, seems to be little reprieve for the tactician and the club on the injury front. Skipper Kayci Odhiambo will sit out of action for the next two weeks, as confirmed by the club.
The news has been compounded further with the club confirming centre back Emmanuel Lwangu also ruled out of the Nairobi United tie with an ankle sprain. The defender is expected to take a couple of weeks off the sidelines.
The pair adds to Maxwell Otieno and Elias Mugane, who have long-term injuries after undergoing surgeries.
Naibois on the mend
Against Naibois, Ingwe faces a side keen to extend its newfound form against a side keen to extend its fine run after seemingly seeing the clouds lift off its season.
The Harambee Stars forward Benson Omala has rediscovered his scoring touch at Nairobi United, netting five goals in five matches.
After putting aside a dismal CAF CC run, Godfrey Oduor’s side has stability in their league assignment with an unbeaten run in their last four games, a spell that has seen the Harambee Star ace best come to the fore.
The former Gor Mahia striker has rediscovered his scoring touch at Nairobi United, netting five goals in five matches, which could effectively end Leopards’ title charge for the season.